Chapter 15
LAUREN
“I ’d love to.” Matthew crooked his elbow, offering me his arm like a gentleman right out of one of those romantic old movies my mother used to watch. “Shall we?”
I hooked my hand onto his bicep, my heart drumming a wild staccato beat.
We joined the dance lesson as partners, and although I tried to listen to the demonstration the older couple was giving us, Matthew’s presence seriously distracted me.
The heat from his body seemed to warm mine, and my concentration didn’t improve when we turned toward each other and he wrapped his arm around me, resting his hand on my shoulder blade.
My nerves were showing in my voice. “I hope I don’t crush your toes.”
Matthew’s gaze connected with mine, and I mirrored his smile as we glided around the room. Slowly, my leg muscles gave up their clench, and I relaxed into the simple movements of the dance.
“You’ve picked it up already,” Matthew said. “Last night you were camping under the stars and here you are two-stepping. Look at you, adopting a Wyoming lifestyle.”
Despite my nervousness about riding and camping without a tent, I felt surprisingly at home here.
There was a wild, stark beauty about southern Wyoming that was honest and raw, and although I’d come out there to hide, I’d found a piece of myself that had gone into hiding over the years.
Being outdoors, riding horses, and doing physical labor made me feel alive again.
The thought of going home and working at a desk all day had me wanting to leap out of my skin.
I had to remind myself to stay in the moment here at this beautiful party because I wasn’t going back to New York just yet.
“What are you thinking about?” Matthew asked.
“When I first arrived, you told me Silver Sage was a magical place, and you were right. I haven’t felt this happy in a long time.”
“I thought you were having trouble relaxing?” he said with a mischievous twinkle in his eyes.
“Maybe I didn’t need to relax. Maybe I needed to do new stuff. You know what I mean? Have a new adventure.”
Matthew raised his eyebrows. “How do you think I ended up running this ranch? I started asking myself questions like that, so be careful.”
I threw my head back and laughed, nearly losing the rhythm with my feet. “You had an existential crisis too, huh?”
“I think it happens in middle age. Some guys buy a Ferrari. I took over a ranch. Now get ready for a spin.” He twirled me in a circle, making my skirt billow out at the knees. “Not bad for a beginner.”
I fluttered my eyelashes at him. “Thank you, sir.”
Matthew might have been my dance partner, but he was still the ranch’s owner and manager, and he had to be professional at what was ostensibly a work event for him.
There would be no kissing or snuggling for us in the Round Room.
That’s why I’d decided to ask him to come to my cabin later that evening.
I needed time alone to tell him my real name and why I had to get out of the city so quickly.
I owed him the truth. Of course, I also wanted time alone with him so I could knock his boots off.
Before I extended an invitation, Tyler appeared and tapped Matthew on the shoulder.
“Our new guest has arrived at the gate, boss. I’m heading that way.
Be back in a few minutes, unless you want to go yourself?
I know you like to make sure everything goes perfectly when first timers arrive.
” The boy could hardly contain his grin.
I hoped he looked that way because he knew Matthew wouldn’t want to leave me to greet his new guest.
“No, you can go,” Matthew said. “I trust you to get him settled. Plus, we have to practice our spins some more.” Without further warning, he twirled me out and then back again, leaving me breathless. It wasn’t my finest dancing moment, but it was certainly the most thrilling.
“Give me more warning next time,” I said as Tyler walked away. “I’m new at this.”
“You seem like an old pro. You always underestimate yourself. It was the same thing with riding. You looked totally comfortable in the saddle.”
“I want to get back on the trails again soon. I feel like I might be ready for a horse that’s not geriatric. No offense to Alma.”
Matthew laughed. “She’s a good old girl, but I think you’re ready for a more energetic horse next time.”
“There’s so much more I want to do before I leave the ranch.
Aside from the blisters, courtesy of my new hiking boots, I can honestly say this has been a perfect vacation.
” I gazed into his blue eyes, hoping he could feel the sincerity of my words.
“Silver Sage has brought me back to life in so many ways.”
His gaze settled on my lips, and I was dying for him to kiss me. Maybe we could find a dark corner away from prying eyes?
“Do you want to get a drink and go out on the porch?” he asked, reading my mind.
Immediately, I stopped dancing and let my arms drop to my sides. “Please lead the way.”
It might have been a while, but I knew that when a man asked you to step into a more private area, something romantic was about to happen. All that dancing had been excellent foreplay, but now I wanted Matthew to press me up against a wall and kiss me until my legs buckled.
Once again placing his hand on the small of my back, he led me toward the bar in the corner of the room where he gave Kyra our drink orders.
After we got our lemonades, I wanted us to make a quick escape, but Sam, Ella and a serious-looking man around our age called us over to them, and they widened their circle to include us.
“Nice to see you again,” Sam said. “I would have said hello earlier, but my brother has been monopolizing your attention all evening.”
“It’s the other way around,” I insisted. “I’ve been taking up all of his time.”
Sam smiled at his brother. “I’m sure he doesn’t mind one bit.” His good manners and angelic dimples didn’t fool me. He was going to harass his older brother as much as possible for dancing with me.
“I certainly don’t mind.” Matthew took a sip of his drink, and I couldn’t help noticing his cheeks had turned a rosy pink.
Sam gestured to the man and woman with him. “These are our friends Callan Colter and Ursula Watson.”
Callan nodded politely, tipping his gray cowboy hat.
“Pleasure to meet you.” His frame was tall and wiry, his black hair shot through with silver.
From his tanned skin, I would have guessed that he worked outdoors even if Matthew hadn’t already mentioned that Callan was the rancher who grazed his herd of cattle on Silver Sage’s property.
His cows were the ones who nearly ended my life, but I wouldn’t hold that against him. After all, I’d left the gate open.
“Nice to meet you too, Callan,” I said. “Ella and I met at The Marmot the other night. Or should I call you Ursula?”
Ella raised her glass in greeting. “Hey, Lauren! Please never call me that. Sam knows I hate my given name.”
“They named her after the villain in The Little Mermaid ,” Sam said. “Beware.”
“Very funny.” Ella fake punched him in the stomach, and he pretended to be hit, doubling over dramatically. “I was named after my German great grandmother. Why they thought a toddler could pull off a name like Ursula is beyond me.”
“I never liked my name growing up either,” I said. “I had two Lauras, one Lori, and another Lauren in my grade in high school. I always wanted a more original name.”
“Grass is always greener,” Ella said. “I wanted so badly to be a Jessica or Heather.”
“Have you been enjoying your stay at Silver Sage?” Callan asked.
“It’s been wonderful.” I glanced up at Matthew. “In fact, if there’s space for me here, I plan to stay another week.”
Matthew beamed down at me. “Absolutely. I’d love to have you.”
His blushed deepened as he heard his double entendre. Sam gave a strangled laugh and Ella hid her smile behind her cup. Callan pretended not to notice, but even he was fighting back a smile. Poor Matthew.
“I mean, we’d love to have you stay longer at the ranch,” Matthew clarified. “All of us. Here. At the ranch.”
“Thank you. I appreciate that.” I squeezed his arm and tried to ease his embarrassment by changing the subject. “Ella, are you originally from here or somewhere else?”
“Born and raised in Three Rivers. My parents own a house about a mile from the bar. Like Matthew, I’m running the family business. My grandparents opened The Mangy Marmot in the late fifties. Not the German great grandmother side, my mom’s people.”
“That’s amazing,” I said. “I’m sure your family is happy you’ve taken over.”
“It was that or close the place. My mother has health issues, and Dad needed to retire and be home with her. I stay at their house a lot and try to help, but we also own the apartments over the bar, so I usually close up at night and go upstairs to sleep.”
“I don’t know how you do all those late nights.” Callan shook his head. “I’d be exhausted.”
“That’s why I want to turn The Marmot into more of a restaurant with a bar instead of the other way around,” she said.
“We could change the hours and get rid of the pool tables, make it friendlier to older folks and people who want to have a fun evening that doesn’t end in a brawl.
People around here don’t like change very much, though. ”
“You could close down, rebrand and reopen,” I suggested. “My sister and I helped a friend of ours do that with his family’s Italian restaurant on Long Island.”
“Huh.” Ella tapped her bottom lip with her pointer finger. “That’s an interesting idea. I never thought about rebranding that way. Maybe we can brainstorm while you’re here?”
“That would be fun,” I said. “I’m not used to being away from work for so long, and my sister told everyone at the office not to call me with questions. I’d love to talk business with you.”
“Great!” Ella looked genuinely excited. “Can you come to The Marmot for lunch one day next week?”
“I’d be happy to take you into town.” Matthew tugged at his collar. “Is it warm in here or is it just me?”
I knew exactly what he was doing and played along. “It is really warm in here.” I fanned myself theatrically. “I think I’m going to get some fresh air. Care to come with me, Matthew?”
He followed me toward the door, but several guests who wanted to speak with him intercepted us.
Then, they pulled me into the conversation, asking me where I was from and how I was enjoying my time at the ranch.
At least twenty minutes passed before we stepped outside into the darkness, the screen door closing behind us.
“Alone at last,” Matthew said as we turned to face each other. “I thought they would never let us leave.”
“You’re a popular guy.”
“Are you kidding? You’re the one they’re curious about. Can’t say I blame them.” He traced his fingers over my cheekbone and down to my chin, tilting it up to bring my mouth toward his. “I was intrigued too. I still am.”
He kissed me, and the rest of the world and all its problems melted into the background.
Our tongues teased, playing against each other, and any shyness we’d experienced the night before wasn’t there now.
The fissions of desire running through my body were all-consuming as he kissed me slowly and thoroughly.
I was unaware of anything but Matthew. I was his for the taking.
A sharp voice pierced the night air, shattering our cocoon. “Lauren? Is that you?”
Recognizing the voice, but not quite believing it, I spun around.
“Oh my God.” The world seemed to spin in my periphery. My almost-ex-husband Freddy stood on the steps of the Round Room. He was here at the ranch.